Andrew Flintoff's agent reacted angrily to reports that the star all-rounder had not signed his England contract out of greed, and lashed out at the label of 'mercenary' tagged to Flintoff.

Andrew Chandler - Flintoff's agent - said that one of the reasons Flintoff turned down the ECB offer is that he might take part in a dangerous sports television series, including bungee-jumping, which a contracted player wouldn't be allowed to do.

"There were one or two things in the deal that made it tough to sign," Chandler was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"I've seen reports he's a mercenary - he's nothing of the sort," he added.

Chandler believes Flintoff has taken his "destiny in his own hands" by rejecting the ECB contract.

"There were one or two things in it that made it difficult to sign like he wouldn't be allowed to participate in dangerous sports and he's possibly doing a television series in which he may do bungee-jumping," said Chandler.

However, Chandler admitted that Flintoff has reached a stage in his career where financial remunerations were an issue, given his family and his life-style.

"He's got three young kids and Andrew and his wife Rachel both spend reasonable amounts of cash so he has to make plenty," he said.

Chandler also insisted that his client remained committed to England's ODI and T20 cause and that he couldn't see the logic behind the ECB offering him the sum they did.

"I don't know what was in the ECB's mind when they offered him the contract they did, because they probably must have known that the money wouldn't have made a lot of difference compared to the sums of money he was earning as a Test cricketer," he said.

"But he is going to end up with the odd sponsorship deal that would be possibly conflicting with an England sponsorship deal and he just wants to have the freedom of mind that he can do what he wants to when he wants to."

The agent also dismissed suggestions that Flintoff's decision would cause uneasiness or tension in the England dressing room.

"I can't see how not signing his contract could jeopardise his position with England and I've seen reports that it will do this in the dressing room.

"I don't see what difference it makes whether he is getting paid that extra money or not as long as he does what he needs to do."

However, in a statement that is sure to set tongues wagging again, Chandler said that it is unlikely that Flintoff will be match-fit and ready by February next year for England's tour of Bangladesh, but that getting fit in time for the IPL-3 in March was a 'realistic aim'.

Flintoff himself had all along maintained earlier that the February tour of Bangladesh was the one he was looking at to make his comeback, and Chandler's statement in the wake of Flintoff rejecting his ECB contract and preferring to go freelance, are sure to re-ignite debates about whether his action is mercenary or not.